The award is one of two new honors created by the Association to recognize outstanding alumni of classes celebrating their tenth and twenty-fifth graduations from law school. Reunion classes nominated class members for the honors and the Law School Association Board made the final selection of honorees.

Dean Davison M. Douglas presented the award to the pair during the Class of 1986's reunion dinner at Colonial Williamsburg's Woodlands Hotel.

Garde, who practices law at McCarter & English in Newark, NJ, is an internationally known attorney in the field of pharmaceutical products liability. Douglas noted that in addition to being an "accomplished attorney," Garde is a "wonderfully committed citizen," known for his work in his church and in the schools in his community.

Huddleston, the Dean noted, in addition to his family law practice in Leesburg, VA, "pulled yeoman duty" as the 2009-10 president of the Virginia State Bar. During his successful tenure, he said, Huddleston made it a personal mission to promote how lawyers serve their communities across the state.

"We are delighted," Douglas said, "that with we have two such strong alumni to honor with this inaugural award."